Service personnel cry over high rent charges

Personnel under the National Service Scheme (NSS) have expressed worry over high rent charges in Sunyani.

They appealed to government to find a lasting solution to the accommodation problems they face during the period of their mandatory service to the nation.

The accommodation problem, according to the 2018-2019 batch of the NSS posted to undertake their service in the Brong-Ahafo Region, could be solved if government considered constructing housing or hostel facilities for them to rent at affordable rates.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, the service personnel said they were worried that many landlords in the Sunyani Municipality were demanding two-year rent advance, which was too much for them to afford.

They said because landlords have refused to collect one-year rent advance it was extremely difficult for them to do the national service.

GNA investigations revealed that currently there are several of the service personnel perching with tertiary students in some campuses.

This situation is compelling some of them who could not cope with the situation to seek re-posting.

Samuel Mensah said he was posted from Accra to Sunyani, but because of lack of accommodation he has not been able to report for duty.

“Because I did not get an affordable accommodation to rent in Sunyani, I am now sharing a room with a stranger who accepted to accommodate me for a season”, Bright Sarpong, a university graduate said.

Mr Ferdinand Anane-Frimpong, a former Brong-Ahafo Regional President of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA), expressed discomfort with the situation and called on the government to collaborate with the NSS to solve the problem.

He said lack of accommodation for service personnel is a national challenge which needed to be addressed for the personnel to work effectively.